5 UK men and a woman charged with 53 child sex offences against 8 Sheffield girls

The six suspects have been charged with 53 offences pertaining to child exploitationJoel Saget/AFP/Getty

Five men and a woman have been charged with 53 child sexual offences relating to the alleged sexual exploitation of eight girls in Sheffield. The charges include allegations of rape, facilitating child prostitution and sexual assault.

According to South Yorkshire Police, the charges relate to eight victims and are said to have taken place in a seven-year-period between 2005-2012. The charges were announced on Friday, 11 March.

The force added that some had been charged jointly with a number of offences. All six of the defendants will appear at Sheffield Magistrates Court on 21 March said the force.

Christopher Whiteley, aged 22, formerly of Sheffield, has been charged with 12 counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of conspiracy to rape. He is also charged with conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution and one count of theft.

Amanda Spencer, 24, formerly of Rotherham, has been charged with eight counts of aiding and abetting rape, eight counts of arranging or facilitating child prostitution, and four counts of causing or inciting child prostitution.

Matthew Whiteley, 23, of Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, is charged with two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution and one count of conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution.

Shane Whiteley, 29, of Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, is charged with two counts of conspiracy to rape, one count of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution, one count of conspiracy to cause or incite child prostitution and one count of attempting to cause or incite child prostitution.

Andre Francis-Edge, 24, of Parson Cross, Sheffield, is charged with conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to arrange or facilitate child prostitution.

Taleb Bapir, 38, of Burngreave, Sheffield, has been charged with rape.

Anyone with concerns about child sexual exploitation can call or text the charity SaySomething for free and anonymously on 116000, or visit the website of Missing People, the charity for runaways.